Container for a medical instrument or implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant

ABSTRACT

Container ( 10 ) for a medical instrument or an implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant ( 36 ). The container ( 10 ) has a receiving part ( 12 ) and a slide part ( 14 ) which is movable relative to the receiving part ( 12 ) from a closed position to an open position. A locking mechanism, which has a latching connection, acts between the receiving part ( 12 ) and the slide part ( 14 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container for a medical instrument or an implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant.

BACKGROUND

There are basically two possible ways of supplying medical instruments or implants. One possibility is for such instruments or implants to be supplied in an unsterilized state, in which case it is essential that the instrument or implant, before being used on the patient, is sterilized by the surgeon or physician. Such a procedure, however, always entails the risk that the sterilization is carried out incompletely and under not entirely clean conditions, which can lead to later complications for the patient. Another possible way of supplying such medical instruments or implants is for them to be sterilized by the manufacturer before supply, and for the instrument or the implant then to be supplied in a sterile state for immediate use on the patient. A problem with this method is that, after the sterile barrier has been opened, the instruments often have to be inserted into a drive unit, as is the case with a drill, for example. Accordingly, implants in most cases have to be picked up with an auxiliary tool in order to use the latter to place the implant in the patient. This is the case, for example, with a dental implant, which is often screwed into the bone with the aid of a screwing adapter and a ratchet. In doing so, it is necessary to ensure that, when the instrument or implant is being removed from the container and when it is being inserted into the drive unit or the auxiliary tool, it is not subjected to chemical, biological or particulate contamination and thus rendered unsterile.

A corresponding container for medical instruments is known, for example, from DE 101 46 905. The latter discloses an instrument container which is of simple design and which permits easy and safe use, in particular handling, of a sterile medical instrument. The instrument container has a receiving part for the releasable mounting of at least one working part of the instrument, and a cap part which is secured releasably on said receiving part and which receives at least part of the shaft of the instrument. By this separation of the instrument container into two functional units, namely the receiving part and the cap part, it is possible for the manufacturer to supply the instrument in a sterile state and ready for use by the physician and for the instrument to be inserted into a drive unit or an auxiliary tool without contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention there is provided a container for a medical instrument or an implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant, which container can be safely transported. Preferably, the medical instrument or the implant is as easy as possible to remove for use. Preferably, the container is designed in such a way that the instrument or the implant has the fewest possible contact surfaces with the container, such that it is easier to sterilize the instrument or implant.

According to the present invention, the container for a medical instrument or an implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant, has a receiving part and a slide part. The slide part can be moved relative to the receiving part from a closed position to an open position in order to close or open the container. The closed position is typically the position in which the container is transported and supplied, and the open position is typically the position in which the instrument or implant can be removed from the container. Moreover, the container is equipped with a locking mechanism which ensures that the slide part cannot be accidentally moved and thus shifted from the closed position to the open position by movement of the slide part relative to the receiving part. The locking mechanism therefore acts between the receiving part and the slide part. The container according to the invention is characterized in that the locking mechanism has a latching connection that acts between the receiving part and the slide part.

The container according to the invention is suitable in particular as a storage and transport container for a medical instrument or an implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant. It guarantees safe and stable storage of the instrument or implant in its interior. Moreover, the locking mechanism based on a latching connection permits simple unlocking of the container and thus makes it easier to remove the instrument or implant from the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the slide part is movable from the closed position to the open position by being displaced along the receiving part. The slide part is preferably moved from the closed position to the open position by being displaced parallel to a longitudinal axis of the receiving part. Such an arrangement allows the user to open the container with one hand: he can take hold of the receiving part and at the same time, and with the same hand, unlock the locking mechanism and move the slide part from the closed position to the open position. This allows him to grip a tool, for example, with the other hand.

The slide part preferably remains in contact with the receiving part during the movement from the closed position to the open position. This prevents the slide part from falling out when the container is opened, for example into a patient's mouth. For this purpose, the slide part is preferably mounted movably on the receiving part, for example with a hinge, or sliding by means of a form fit. Alternatively, the container can also have a securing element which connects the slide part to the receiving part in such a way that although the slide part can be moved from the closed position to the open position, it cannot at the same time be separated completely from the receiving part. This can be achieved, for example, with the aid of an elastic connecting piece between slide part and receiving part, a screen or a click.

The latching connection between the slide part and the receiving part can be formed by any desired combination of one or more latching recesses with one or more latching teeth. A mutual displacement thereof is avoided preferably by a force fit, that is to say by a connection that can be released without destruction when a defined limit force is exceeded. In a preferred embodiment, the receiving part has at least one latching recess, and the slide part has at least one latching tooth which engages with the latching recess on the receiving part. The receiving part preferably has several latching recesses, which are arranged in a row and are designed for example as grooves extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the receiving part, and the slide part has a single latching tooth.

It is also particularly preferable that the receiving part has two rows of latching recesses, arranged in pairs on two opposite longitudinal sides of the receiving part, and that the slide part has a pair of latching teeth that engage in a respective row of latching recesses on the receiving part. Alternatively, however, it would also be possible for the receiving part to have one or more projections that engage in one or more latching recesses on the slide part.

To unlock the slide part, the latching connection, which is preferably based on a force fit, has to be released, for example by means of the latching tooth or teeth being lifted out of the latching recess or recesses. This is preferably achieved indirectly, by means of an area of the slide part adjacent to the latching tooth being used as a tilting lever, the unlocking being effected by exerting a pressure on the remote end of this lever, so as to lift the latching tooth or teeth. Alternatively, the latching connection can also be released directly, for example by pulling on a grip arranged on the slide part.

The container according to the invention is suitable in particular as a storage and transport container for dental implants, particularly preferably for completely ceramic dental implants. The container in this case preferably contains an adapter and a dental implant, in particular a one-part ceramic implant. The adapter is arranged such that it is connected to the implant with a form fit. To avoid a rotation of the adapter relative to the receiving part, the adapter and the receiving part preferably have one or more corresponding recesses and projections, respectively. The adapter preferably has a releasable clamping device, for example in the form of resilient fingers or snap-action lips, in order to engage around the implant and fix the latter relative to the adapter. The dental implant preferably has only minimal contact surfaces with the adapter.

In one embodiment, in order to remove the implant from the container, a holder is inserted into the adapter, still in the closed position of the container, and connects itself to the implant with a form fit. The adapter serves to find the correct orientation of the holder in terms of rotation relative to the implant. Alternatively, it would of course also be possible to insert the holder into the container and connect it to the implant before transport or sterilization. A further advantage of the container according to one embodiment of the invention is therefore that the implant/adapter are accessible to a holder even when the slide part is located in the closed position. The movement from the closed position to the open position is therefore independent of the application of the holder.

In a preferred embodiment, the slide part has a clamping device for the adapter. This avoids a movement of the adapter, and therefore also of the implant connected thereto, in the interior of the container.

The adapter is preferably arranged on the receiving part in such a way that the contact surface between the adapter and the receiving part/slide part is minimal. It is particularly preferable that the slide part engages around resilient fingers or snap-action lips of the adapter. This increases the clamping force of the device during transport.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the container, the adapter is arranged in such a way that the contact surface between the adapter and the implant is minimal, likewise the contact surface between receiving part/slide part and adapter.

Sterilization of contact surfaces between two elements is made difficult by the fact that the sterilizing agent, for example EO gas, steam or H₂O₂, reaches microorganisms on these contact surfaces less effectively than it does in areas that are freely accessible to a liquid or a gas. Therefore, an advantage of minimizing the contact surface between the adapter and the implant and between the container and the adapter is that the sterilization procedure is made easier. The smaller the contact surface, the smaller the surface areas that are difficult to sterilize completely, and it is thus possible to minimize the risk of side effects caused by poor or incomplete sterilization. The contact surfaces between adapter and implant are minimal by virtue of the fact that the adapter, in one end area thereof, has resilient fingers which have supporting lugs and which are in contact with the implant only via the bearing surfaces of the supporting lugs. Therefore, only a few areas of the implant are inaccessible to the sterilizing agent.

In a preferred embodiment, the dental implant has no direct contact surfaces with the receiving part and/or the slide part. This in turn has the effect that as far as possible all areas of the implant (and of the container) are accessible to the sterilizing agent. In particular, there should be no contact between implant and slide part.

In a preferred embodiment, the manually separable arrangement of the adapter on the receiving part is achieved by means of a clamping device. This clamp device can either be mounted on the adapter or on the receiving part. This clamping device encloses parts of the adapter that are preferably designed as resilient fingers. In this way, the implant or the medical instrument has no or only minimal direct contact with the receiving part, as a result of which the sterilization procedure is again made easier and contamination of the implant by container materials is avoided. Moreover, the medical instrument or implant, in particular the dental instrument or the dental implant, is less susceptible to damage during transport if it has no contact surface with the container and, in the event of jolts, it does not strike against the container and suffer damage as a result.

In another preferred embodiment, one end of the holder, after insertion of the latter into the container, protrudes from the corresponding end face formed by the receiving part, so as to facilitate access to the holder from outside the container. For this purpose, the receiving part is preferably open at least at one end face. Ideally, the holder has a stem which serves for insertion into a screwing tool. In this way, the operator can use the screwing tool to remove the implant together with the holder and the adapter from the container without touching the implant, thereby achieving optimal sterilization conditions. In doing so, the operator ideally engages the screwing tool into the stem of the holder with a click before the locking mechanism of the container is opened.

In another preferred embodiment of the container, the receiving part is dimensionally stable. The dimensional stability has the effect that, particularly during transport, the medical instrument or implant, in particular the dental instrument or the dental implant, is optimally protected and escapes damage or contamination.

In a preferred embodiment, the receiving part is at least substantially tubular. Moreover, the receiving part preferably has slit-like holes to allow better access of the sterilizing medium to the surface of the implant or instrument.

Instead of a two-part embodiment in which holder and adapter are two separate parts, a one-part design is also possible in which the adapter is an integral part of the holder. In this case, of course, the holder must already be in the container before transport, such that the integrated adapter is able to perform its transport safety function. However, the two-part embodiment is preferable.

In the two-part embodiment, the adapter can be secured on the holder. The adapter is equipped in an end area with resilient fingers, which have supporting lugs. The supporting lugs form bearing surfaces for the implant. The implant is supported and held on these bearing surfaces, which engage under the crown end of the implant and accordingly hold said end with a form fit. This structure permits a secure holding of the implant, even though only a small surface of the implant is in contact with the adapter. This permits good sterilization of the implant.

In the one-part embodiment, the adapter is an integral part of the holder, that is to say the end area of the holder is equipped with the resilient fingers, which have supporting lugs. The supporting lugs in this case have the same function as in the two-part embodiment.

An important design feature of the adapter is that the bearing surface between the supporting lugs and the dental implant has a minimal surface area. The minimal contact surfaces between the adapter and the implant permit easy sterilization of the implant or instrument. Minimal signifies that the individual contact surfaces are less than 1 mm². The smaller the contact surface, the smaller the surfaces that are difficult to completely sterilize, and, accordingly, it is possible to minimize the risk of side effects caused by poor or incomplete sterilization of the implant.

In another preferred embodiment, the implant is a one-part implant, i.e. anchoring part and abutment are formed in one piece, and the implant is preferably a ceramic implant. Ideally, the abutment of the implant is designed in such a way that the bearing surfaces of the supporting lugs of the adapter can engage under the shoulder surface of the abutment and thus hold the implant with a form fit.

The receiving part, the slide part and the adapter are ideally made of a biocompatible sterilizable material in order to easily carry out sterilization. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the material of the receiving part, of the slide part and of the adapter is for example titanium or plastic, or stainless steel, ceramic or a composite material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained on the basis of an illustrative embodiment depicted in the drawings in which, in each case purely schematically:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to the invention, with a receiving part and a slide part;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a dental implant and of an adapter;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a container according to the invention containing a dental implant and an adapter, wherein the slide part of the container is in a closed position;

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of a locking mechanism that acts between the slide part and the receiving part of the container from FIG. 3, wherein the latching tooth of the slide part rests in the latching recesses of the receiving part;

FIG. 5 shows the locking mechanism from FIG. 4, wherein the latching tooth is pushed out of the latching recesses;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the container from FIG. 3, with a holder mounted on the adapter;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the container from FIG. 6, with the slide part in an open position; and

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of dental implant, adapter and holder being removed from the container from FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a container 10 according to the invention. The container 10 comprises a receiving part and a slide part 14 which can be connected releasably to the latter. The receiving part 12 is substantially tubular or trough-shaped and is open at one end face 16. The receiving part 12 has a top face 18, an underside 20 and two lateral walls 22, 24.

The slide part 14 can be plugged from the direction of the top face 18 onto the receiving part 12 and has two open end faces 26, 28. The end face 26 has a circular opening 30 through which a holder (see FIG. 6) can be connected to a medical instrument or implant accommodated in the container 10. The slide part 14 also has two grip areas 32, 34 which, in the connected state, engage around the two side walls 22, 24 of the receiving part 12.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a dental implant and of an adapter 38 which can be connected releasably thereto, which dental implant 36 and adapter 38 can be accommodated in a container 10 according to the invention during transport and storage for example.

The dental implant 36 shown is an integrally formed one-part ceramic implant and has an anchoring part 40, which is designed to anchor the dental implant 36 in the jaw bone of a patient, and an abutment 42, which is designed to be connected to a prosthetic element, for example a crown. Alternatively, however, it would of course also be possible to store any other desired dental implant, for example a two-part implant or one made of metal, in the container 10 according to the invention.

The adapter 38 shown is in the shape of a substantially circular cylinder and, at one end face, has several resilient fingers 44 by means of which the adapter 38 can be connected releasably to the dental implant 36. For this purpose, the adapter 38 is plugged onto the abutment 42 of the dental implant 36 such that the resilient fingers 44 engage around the abutment 42. At the end face opposite the resilient fingers 44, the adapter 38 has a substantially circular opening 46 through which a holder (see FIG. 5) can be connected to the dental implant 36.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a container 10 according to the invention with a receiving part 12 and with a slide part 14 connected releasably to the latter. In its top face 18 and in its underside 20, the substantially tubular receiving part has slit-like holes 48 which facilitate the sterilization of the container 10 and of a dental implant 36 and adapter 38 contained therein.

The container 10 shown accommodates a dental implant 36 and an adapter 38 connected to the latter. The slide part 14 is plugged from the direction of the top face 18 onto the receiving part 12 and, with its grip areas 32, 34, engages around the two side walls 22, 24. The slide part 14 is movable parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the receiving part 12, and it can be moved from a closed position (shown in FIG. 3) to an open position (see FIG. 7) by being displaced along the receiving part 12. The slide part 14 is guided by the two side walls 22, 24 and remains in contact with the receiving part 12.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show an enlarged view of the locking mechanism acting between the slide part 14 and the receiving part 12. On the outer face 50 of its side wall 22, the receiving part 12 has a row of latching recesses 52, which engage with a latching tooth 54 on that face of the grip area 32 of the slide part 14 directed toward the receiving part 12. A web 56 connects the grip area 32 to the rest of the slide part 14.

Without external action (FIG. 4), the grip area 32 of the slide part 14 touches the side wall 22 of the receiving part 12 only with the latching tooth 54. The latching tooth 54 engages in the latching recesses 52 and avoids a displacement of the slide part 14 relative to the receiving part 12. By exerting a pressure on that area 58 of the slide part 14 lying on the other side of the web 56, as seen from the latching tooth 54, said latching tooth 54 is lifted away from the surface 50 of the side wall 22 and the locking mechanism is in this way unlocked (FIG. 5). For this purpose, this web 56 is at least flexible enough to ensure that the grip area 32 can be rotated relative to the rest of the slide part 14 until the latching tooth 54 can be lifted out of the latching recesses 52. The unlocking of the locking mechanism has the effect that the slide part 14 can now be moved from the closed position to the open position.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the container 10 from FIG. 3, with the addition of a holder 60 that is connected releasably to the adapter 38 and to the dental implant 36 (not visible in this figure). The slide part 14 is still located in the closed position.

By virtue of the open end face 16 of the receiving part 12 and of the circular opening 30 in the slide part, the adapter 38 is accessible from the outside, and the holder 60 can already be connected to the adapter 38 in the closed position. The holder 60 is used to remove the dental implant 36 and the adapter 38 from the container 10.

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the container 10 from FIG. 6, with the slide part 14 now located in an open position. In the open position, the dental implant 36 and the adapter 38 are no longer enclosed by the slide part 14 and instead are freely accessible from the direction of the top face 18 of the receiving part 12.

FIG. 8 shows the dental implant 36, together with the adapter 38, being lifted out of the container 10. To do so, the holder 60 connected releasably to the adapter 38 is lifted up through the partially open top face 18 of the receiving part 12 without the need for direct contact between the user and the implant 36.

To avoid a rotation of the adapter 38 relative to the receiving part 12, the adapter 38 and the receiving part 12 preferably have one or more corresponding recesses 62 and projections 64, respectively, extending in the axial direction. Moreover, the receiving part 12 shown has a projection 66 which extends in the circumferential direction and which, in the packaged state, engages with a circumferential recess 68 on the adapter 38 and prevents the adapter 38, and therefore also the implant connected thereto, from being moved in the axial direction relative to the receiving part 12. 

1. A container for a medical instrument or an implant, in particular for a dental instrument or a dental implant, said container comprising a receiving part and a slide part which is movable relative to the receiving part from a closed position to an open position, and said container having a locking mechanism that acts between the receiving part and the slide part, wherein the locking mechanism has a latching connection that acts between the receiving part and the slide part.
 2. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide part is movable from the closed position to the open position by being displaced along the receiving part.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 2, wherein the slide part is movable from the closed position to the open position by being displaced parallel to a longitudinal axis of the receiving part.
 4. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide part remains in contact with the receiving part during the movement from the closed position to the open position.
 5. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving part has at least one latching recess, and the slide part has at least one latching tooth which engages with the at least one latching recess on the receiving part.
 6. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container contains an adapter and a dental implant.
 7. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dental implant has only minimal contact surfaces with the adapter.
 8. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving part has a clamping device for the adapter.
 9. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adapter is arranged on the receiving part in such a way that the contact surface between the adapter and the receiving part is minimal.
 10. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the adapter has resilient fingers and the slide part surrounds the resilient fingers of the adapter.
 11. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dental implant has no contact surfaces with the receiving part and/or with the slide part.
 12. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving part is open at least at one end face.
 13. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving part is dimensionally stable.
 14. The container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving part is at least substantially tubular and has slit-like holes for a sterilization procedure.
 15. The container as claimed in claim 6, wherein the receiving part, the slide part and the adapter are made of a biocompatible material.
 16. The container as claimed in claim 15, wherein the biocompatible material comprises titanium or plastic.1. 